Conveyer and adhesive applicator for carton blanks



Sept. 8, 1953 J/A. zlNN, JR

CONVEYER AND ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR CARTON BLANKS Filed June 30, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. N -V/mazwwf, .Q

Sept. 8, 1953 J. A. zlNN, .1Ry 2,651,283

CONVEYER AND ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR CARTON BLANKS Filed June zo, 1949 f 7 sheetssheet .2

IINVENTOR. JaZa/gs QT Zm/Z, J/t,

Sept. 8, 1953 J. A. zlNN, JR 2,551,283'

CONVEYER AND ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR CARTON BLANKS Filed June 50, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l 79 Z5 f* o MINA/w 40 Septs, 1953 J. A. ZINN, JR 2,651,283

CONVEYER AND ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR CARTON BLANKS Filed June 30, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR.

CONVEYER AND ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR CARTONB'LANKS Filed June 30, 1949 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Sept. 8, 1953` J. A. zlNN, JR 2,651,233

CONVEYER AND ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR CARTON BLANKS Filed June 30, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

l. ,@-BY l I Sept. 8, 1953 J. A. z1NN,`J,R

CONVEYER AND ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR CARTON BLANKS A INVENTOR. JM (Z Zazfz, J/f, BY

7 Sheets-Sheet '7 NS NQ MJ@ Filed June 30, 1949 Patented Sept. 8, 1953 OFFICE CONVEYER AND ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR CARTON BLANKS Julius A. Zinn, Jr., Chicago, Ill. Application June 30, 1949, Serial No. 102,345

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved conveyor and adhesive applicator and more particularly to a conveyor for taking blanks from a stack and conveying them singly to a gluer which applies an adhesive to selected areas on the blanks and then delivering the blanks to a machine for forming them into boxes or cartons.

The apparatus is especially designed to handle blanks of irregular outline and shape such, for example, as are cut to form tapered cartons or such as are provided with tabs or lugs for interfolding to provide leakproof corners. Such blanks, when delivered, to carton forming machines such as that shown in my application Serial No. 752,364, iled June Il, 1947 now Patent 2,547,899, must be delivered with a predetermined edge toward the machine. Due to the irregular edges of the blank, it is impractical to mechanically separate one blank from the bottom of a pile of similar blanks by movement of the blank in the direction required for final delivery to the machine because the blanks tend to become interlocked. The conveyor of the present invention, therefore, provides for separating a blank from the stack by initial movement of the blank in one direction followed by a change in direction of the blank upon a following section of the conveyor.

The production of cartons or boxes which are liquid tight requires very accurate delivery of the blanks and very accurate application of the glue or adhesive to predetermined areas of the blank. It is important that the selected areas be completely covered with the adhesive and is also quite important that adhesive be not applied to non-selected areas.

Y It is also important that the blanks be delivered in a clean condition. Many such blanks are used for packaging food and cleanliness is important as well as the appearnce of the product. The conveyor system has, therefore, been designed so that the blanks cannot become contaminated or soiled by lubricating material or other foreign matter.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved conveyor and apparatus for applying adhesive.

It is a further object to provide apparatus which provides for separation of irregular blanks by movement in one direction followed by delivery from the conveyor in anothervdirection, presenting a different side of the blank toward vthe point of delivery.

It is also an object to provide apparatus for .accurately delivering blanks to means for apportions of their sur- `applying apparatus having means for adjusting the quantity of adhesive applied to the blanks and for controlling pressure of the blank against the adhesive applying means.

It is a further object to provide means for automatically stopping feed of adhesive to the adhesive applying means when the conveyor is in operation but is not feeding blanks to the adhesive applying means.V

It is also an object to provide apparatus of this character which is efl'icient in operation and adapted for commercial production and use.

rOther and further objects will appear as the description proceeds. v l K I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in Whch- Figure 1 is a plan view of the `apparatus, partly broken away; Y

Figure 2 is an elevation of the adhesive applying apparatus on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is ure 1; v Y Y Y; Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line ure 1;

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 1 1 of Figu re 1; and y Figure 8 is a longitudinal fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, of the adhesive applying apparatus'and the associated section of the conveyor. Y

Referring rst to Figure 1, it will be seen that the conveyor and adhesive applying apparatus a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig- 's-'s of Fig- 'are supported on an L-shaped framework having the longer portion 2| and the shorter lportion 22. This portion 22 carries the mechanism for supporting and feeding a stack of blanks, as shown `in vertical longitudinal section in Figure 4` and vertical cross-'section in Figure 3. The long portion 2l -of the supporting frame carries a series of conveyorsand the adhesiveapplying apparatus. It feeds the blanks tothe rotating table 22 of the carton forming apparatus.

Considering `rst the feed apparatus and referring to Figures 1, 3 and 4, a pair of vertically extending adjustable guides are shown at 23, these engaging rear portions of the stack of blanks 24. At either side of these guides 23 are located the pair of guide and support rollers 25 which engage the outer edge portions of the rear of the blanks. As clearly shown in Figure 1, all of these guides are adjustable in the cross frame member 26 laterally and are slotted for adjustment toward or away from the stack of blanks so as to be used with various types and shapes of blanks. The particular blanks for which the guides are adjusted have portions extending rearwardly, 'or to the right in Figure 4, of the guides 231and resting on rollers 25. The lateral edges of the blanks are guided between the stack guides 2t 'shown in Figures 3 and 4. The front vedges of the blanksl engage the vertical stop members 29. The vertical adjustable holding members 3| limit move ment to one blank at a time.

The lower blank is withdrawn from the stack located and held by these guides by means of contact elements 30 carried by the 'wheels 32 and 33, these contactor friction elements being preferably formed of a type of rubber or other material adapted to frictionally pick up the blank. The remaining portions of the periphery of wheels 32 and 33 are formed of smooth material which will `slide over the blank without frictional engagement sufficient to remove the blank. The wheels 32 and 33 are 'carried by pulley shaft 34 and between the wheels .32 and 33 are located pulleys 35 'over which extend feeder belts 3l. The pulleys 35 have recessed `-faces with edges 38 extending above the belts 31-so that the belts do not engage the lowermost blank in the stack until it has been moved forward by the Contact elements 3|). These belts 31 extend to the left, as shown in Figure 4, around idler pulleys -Sc which may befadjusted to tension'the feeder belts. The shaft 34 is driven from power shaft 4d and the pulley 42 thereon by lmeans -of the belt 43 which passes over idler pulley 44 and around pulley 46, as seen at the left of Figure 3.

The -blanksa're held down against the belts 31 by the rollers 4'| held in frames 48 -a'nd pressed downwardly Vby compression springs 49 which are carried by the roller adjusting studs G. These studs Y5i) extend from supporting arms 52 which extend around above and are secured to the upper faceof 'thecross fframe'member 54. The arms 52 are capable of lateral adjustment on member '54. The upper feed r-rollers' 56 located `"adjacent the front of the stack guides are adjustablycarried by means lof slotted I`arms`51 jfrom thebrackets 52. Below the belts 31 and opposite a portion of vthe upper guide :roller assembly, including rollers 4'5, are located support rollers vlill. YThese are carried 'by brackets Vlil Asupported from the "cross frame "members"62 "and 63, ywhich members also, by means of bracketsfli, adjustably'support idler rollers 39. These rollers 39 4may be adjuste'd 'to take up :slack 'in belts k'31.

The small "transfer roller 'El is llo'ca'tedbeyond the end'of the-upper Arun'of the conveyor `belts `31 and at right angles to theline of movement of the blanks. This roller "61 is driven by belt '69 from pulley 'i0 which is also carried by the 'shaft 4in. The transferrouer t1 cai-ries theblani; over against the flaring-guide14 and holdsthem in contact therewith until upon lateralmovement their rear or right edges, as seen -infFigure 4, reach the guide member vlull Yand t into groove therein. An electric switch 15 located above guide 14 actuated by a blank should -it fail -and I|8 on shaft H9.

to enter the guide 14. At this time the left edge of the blank will have passed into groove 98 in the left guide 91. The guide 14 locates the blanks under the overhead conveyor 8i), which conveyor comprises chains running around pairs of pulleys 82 and 84 carried by shafts 86 and 86. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the cross shaft 86 is provided with a gear 9u which meshes with a gear 9| carried on a lower cross shaft 92. The drip pan 94 is carried adjacent the lower runs of the chains B0 and above the moving blanks. The chains 8B carry the pick-up members 96 which extends laterally of the vpan 94 and below the level of that pan when they are on the lower run of the chains.

From the flaring guide 14 extends the close 'fitting guide member 91 having the slot 9S formed therein. On the opposite or right side of the conveyor assembly, as seen in Figure 6, is located a guide |0B similar to the guide 91, this having a slot |0| similar to the lguide slot 98. Therefore,

fat this point in their travel, the blanks are 'closely guided as to their line of movement.

As seen in Figures 5, -6 and 8, the overhead conveyor chains B terminate Yabove the Abeginning of the run of lower conveyor -chains |l-D. These chains pass over drive sprockets l|| on shaft 92, over idler sprockets ||2 on shaft H4, around under idler sprockets ||B on shaft ||1 This lower conveyor, as -best shown in Figures 6 and '7, operates yby means of the main night cross `members |`2| which eX- tend between the two chains Hf below the cover plates y|23 and |24 -which'carry theigui'de members 91 and |08. These plates |23 and |24 falso carry vthe rails |26la'nd |2l over which the blanks slide. The cross members '|2-| carry ythe adjustable pusher members ort'abs |36 which, as shown 'in Figure 6, take up their thrust against the rear edge of the blanks asthey 'are left by thedown- `wardly extending arms 96 of the previous overhead conveyor. 'These members |30 are-secured to cross members |21 by bolts |3| rand may be given any -desired angular vadjustment to fully contact a rear edge of the blanks.

The chains il lil Vpass between the lower fpressure roll v|2115 and the upper adhesive applying roll |35. -It willbe understood that adhesive is only applied to selected areas of the -blank and the roll |36 has raised vportions IlS-"i for this purpose. Roll `|35 4is keyed to shaft |38 and-roll |36 is keyed to 'shaft |39. These shafts |38 fand y139 are driven in'synchronism with veach other and with the drive of the conveyor `belts lill). "The Vpressure roller '|35 is provided-with a recess |f4| which extends parallel `to the v:axis ofthe roller and is adequate in size to receive and vpermit passage of the cross members 12| and ".pusher tabs l'carried'by the'con-veyornchains illi. lConsequently, the blankis car-ried throughlbetween vthe pressure roll 'and the adhesive -roll |36 -positively lby `the conveyor and independent .-o'f any frictional gripping bythetwofrollers. 'Small spaced wires l 46 Yarecarried -on lrods |48 fextending from the side frames, these wires serving to strip the blanks 'fromlthe adhesive applying {surfaces |31. The vsurfaces `L31 may be ..provided with narrow grooves fto receive `the wires. .An electric switch |5| `is located l-adjacent the fdischarge beyond wires |46 land is Voperated ley-'the blanks if they should jam fat'this point.

As shown `in 'Figure 2;theshaft =|l38=ofrthetpres sure roller 35 is 'carried in sliding bearing lblo'cks |40 guided in the frame |5411. Each block :|49 is provided with an adjustable stud 4.41 which 'rests -on fan eccentric |49 keyed :to shaft 54.50.

This shaftr|50 is rotated by knob |53 on `lpointer |51. The spacing between the roller |35 and the adhesive applying rollerl |31 may `thus be adjusted 'for blanks -of different thickness or to apply different degrees of pressure at this point. The underneath conveyor just described delivers the blanks after the application-of glue to a second overhead conveyor comprising chains |421passing, at the left end of the run, over sprockets |43 carried by -cross shaft |45. As shown in .Figure these chains |42 pass, at the right end of their run, overvsprockets |41 which areflocated on a shaft carried bythe blocks |49 which maybe adjusted by screws |50 and nuts |52 carried bythe Vright -end of the frame |54 which supports this second overhead conveyor. These chains |42r are provided with the spaced carriers |55 similar to the members 96 of the rst overhead conveyor. This conveyor is also provided with the oil pan |56 under the lower run of chains |42.

The gluer, as best shown in Figure 8, comprises the pan |60 above which is supported the transfer roll |6| rotating with shaft |62 to which it is keyed. This roller |6| dips down into pan |60 below the level of the adhesive therein. It rotates in the clockwise direction and the thickness of the=adhesive carried by the transfer roll for transfer-to the raised adhesive depositing surfaces on roller |31 is determined by the doctor roll |63 located adjacent and to the left of transfer roll |8l, as shown in Figure 8;

A source of light |10 is located below the upper run` of conveyor chains ||0, as seen in Figure 8, andan' electric eye' |12 is also located below this run, Above the run is located aflat tubular member |14 carrying downwardly facing inclined mirrors at either end thereof, these mirrors being located above the source of light |10 and the electriceye |12,`respectively. It will be apparent, therefore, that if either the gap between the electric eye and its mirror or that between the source of light and its `mirror is blocked by passage of a blank, the electronic eye will not be voperated since no light will pass to it. In normal operation the blanks are so spaced that one or the other portions of the light path is always blocked.k Consequently, the control device actuated -by the electric eye does not function. If, howevenyno blanks are-beine .fed .threugh this electric eye control, it serves to actuate a solenoid |15 shown in Figure 2 which, by pulling down on link |16, through arm |11, link |18, and lever arm |80, rotates eccentric supports |82 for the ends of the shaft supporting doctor roll |63 so as to move that roll into close contact with the transfer roll |6| so that no adhesive is transferred to the raised Iportions of the adhesive applying roll |31. The scraper |65 removes adhesive from the doctor roll |63, which rotates in the counter-clockwise direction, so that adhesive pick up by the doctor roll |63 is not returned to the transfer roll |61.

In the operation of the conveyor to feed blanks to the carton making machine, a stack of blanks 24 are placed in position between the various guides, as shown in Figure 4. Portions of the rear edges of the blanks engage the face of the vertical guides 23, while the lowermost blank has portions of its rear edges resting on the guide rollers 25. With power supplied to all of the conveyors, the raised pulley edges 38 and the wheels 32 and 33 slide under the lower forward edges of the bottom blank until the contact elements on the wheel surfaces engage the blank. These contact elements draw the blank out and its front edge passes below the .lower Vedg'eof members 3|, under the rollers 56 and on top of the belts- 31. The belts 31 carry them under the series of rollers 41, the pressure of these rollers holding them frictionally against the belts. The belts feed them out until they are delivered over the transfer roller i61 which is positively driven. This roller 61 continues to move the blank forward until its forward edge rests against the lower portion of vthe flaring guide member 14. The parts are so timed that immediately after a blank reaches this position. the chains vof the overhead conveyor bring pick-up or carrier members 96 against the left edge of the blank, as considered in relation to Figures 1 and 5. These members 96 carry the blanks to the right until their edges are fitted in the slot 98 in member 91 and into slot |0| in guide |00. By these means, the blank is very accurately located in its movement. v

As the blank passes from the right end of this iirst overhead conveyor, it is picked up by an adjustable pusher or pick-up member |30 carried by a cross member 2| of the lower conveyor; This member |30 has been adjusted' to thev angle of the adjacent edge of the blank so that it has a full contact therewith and yhas no tendency to jam the edges of the blank` inthe guide grooves.

The blank is carried by the lower conveyor over and between the adhesiveapplying roll |36 and the pressure roll |35. As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 8, the cross member 2| and pusher member |30 pass through between the two rolls, thus assuring exact registration of 'the blank with the raised adhesive applying portions |31 of the surface of cylinder |36. the right end of this conveyor, it is picked up by the carriers |55 of the second overhead conveyor. This conveyor delivers the blanks at its end to the point of use, such as the rotating table 22, a.

portion of which is shown in Figure 1, of the'` carton forming machine fully shown in my copending application which has been identified above. f y

`All ofthe conveyors have their drives and the locations of their pusher members coordinated so'that .the movement of .the 'blank through the conveyor system may be exactly coordinated withthe movement of the receiving apparatus. Thef removal of the .lowermost blank of the pile by movement in one direction followed by movement of the blank at right angles through the gluer to the delivery point is an important feature of the invention. This makes possible automatic operation and 4delivery of single blanks from types of blanks which cannot be separated by mechanical movement when initially moved laterally in the manner in which they are required to be delivered. This is caused by the configuration of the blanks with tabs extending therefrom with narrow spaces therebetween. Such blanks can be mechanically separated in line with the tabs and divisions, but not at right angles thereto. Any slight flexing of the blanks which will normally occur in handling them will cause interlocks of the edges of the tabs which would jam any apparatus attempting to separate them laterally. The fact that the blanks are positively carried by a conveyor through and in contact with the adhesive applying roll is important, as only in this way can slippage be prevented and accurate registration made of the glue applying raised portions of the roller against the blanks.

As the blank leaves.`

gousse aumabiallyf operating owitohesa Il; andi-15; are

oleo; qonnectedlin thel control circuit and serve 'mi releases the zcliiitch; should blankse jamr. atethein lgeationsz, 'Bhe Switched; L85; m6 and: [85h may bie um tmreleaserthef clnthi onftoiout; it inop;i eration; by; manual; control; Y

It wilhbef uniriond thati since;` the conveyor. ise fizomithefmachine operating upon'i the blankeathez clutch Ilg.-v serafes to stoof the; con,- vovorrwithoiit `stlor lr -i1gfone ratiomof the machine or other apparatus; such: for; examole 'as-means foto applynefwaxfto thaformeo; cartons-,',which mavvbeisynohronized withrf chemieaohine.-

While zhavees'hown .certa-in preferred-g embodie ments; oi my', apparatus,- these; are; to, be unden- Stoogtmhe ilustrativa: only? asi it,A is.; capableofdlangenkivaliatinitmmeetdiielingiconditions andergulementse and kcontemplate sucht-modi'-V atimlsoaacome withnythefspirit zand scopefoithe appended claims.

, 1*,- Af; conveyor: andggluer assembliecomprisingE ai Swimming: frame, guides; fon guiding; linear: movements@ ats blanksrn: the, frame; ,anzadhee S-,vee applying' roll; above; the;r guidesua pressure roll, below thei guides;` ai'conveyorf adapted; to move. fblainksathloughi andibetiveenisaid; rolls;` an adhesiva feeong :roll adiacenti the adhesive;ap;.L plyixgg rolk meansiadiaeeut-the conveyorzopeeativeowhem theai conveyor sissclea-r; offblanksg-to remedie adhesivei froim thea-.feeding roll A priori to contactffyvitlifsa-id.applying rollgzlsaid-meansecomfpzxisirxo aidoctoreroll, .aolightzsoumeaand eleetric: eye.: belowothe'fgmdes,ereectingzmeaosfabovexthe emes: and:l solenoid cpeisatedzmeansr, controlled.' by the electric eye, said solenoid operated mams; operatngethedoctonlrollio xemove adhesive from tneanplying rollt.:

2: Agconveyorrandiglereassembly comprising; aig suppmting; frame; giiid-esi for: guidingo linear.. movementeofeiflat blanks @mths fframeanoadhee sive :applyiisig-Y rollt abovestheegnidesa' an pressureroll: below the guides; a. conveyor adaptedi to' move; blanks through; andi, between. said;` mills,r an adhesivaY feeding rollf. adaeent thee adhesvef aprplying :gelleV areA adhesiveV sumpinto' which.K the lower portion of, they-feeding roll; extends adjustable control-:means adjacent. thedeeding; roll for coninrollingi the-thickness oi the lei-yen of-- adhesive carried by said rolland; means adjacent. the; conf veyor operativev when the conveyor iss clear of blanksyto aetuate said adjustable controlfitof remove'adhesive from the feed 12011A before,V contact. withtheiapplyingfrolL-.-

3. A conveyory ande gluer` assembly. comprising, af, supporting frame, guides4 fon guiding? linean movement of; fla/rfblanks onl the: framer anadhe-l sive applying; roll; above the guides',. a; pressureroll belovvJ the. guides, a conveyory adapted; toI nieve-blanksr through andbetween, said musiz an adhesive: feeding;Y roll?` adjacent: the,- adhesvapply-ingr;l roll., an' adhesive sump: intowhich the lower portion of the feeding roll ext'enda-.adust ablecontrol. means adjacent the f eedingmollifor controllingthefthickness of. the layer. of: adhesive cairiedbyfsaid roll and.meansfadjzacentthecon veyon opera-tive wheni therconveyor: isil clear of: blanks` toaetuateY said: adjustablen controlv to; re-f move adhesive from-the feed; ro1lbeforez eontaoty withz the applying? rollil said,E meansycomprising a lig-lit source ,and electric eyeloelovvtlsieqgiiidesre-` ecting, meansa alcove` the guides.v andsolenoid; operatede means-e controlled*J by;` the. electric:y eye for actuating the adjustablezcontrol..

JULIUSA; ZINN, JR- 

